Steam generator



1,634,604 y 5, 1927- H. s. ANDERSON STEAM GENERATOR Filed April 28, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet l u ..r s I s l q r m T L t ZIW HARRY'S. ANDERS y 1927- H. s. ANDERSON STEAM GENERATOR Filed April 28, 1924 4 SheetsSheet ginucnfoz HARRY SANDEESON 1,634,604 July 1927- H. s. ANDERSON STEAM GENERATOR Filed April 28, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 ANDERSON July 5 1927.

H. S. ANDERSON STEAM GENERATOR Filed April 28, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 my. A 1 s!- 79 i Patented July 5, 1927.

manx s. mnnasoiv, or Los menus, cunroma.

swam enunna'ron Application fled April as, 1924. Serial no. 709,572.

My invention relates -to steam generators for locomotives, I like, and a purpose of my invention is the provision of a steam generator made up of a plurality of individual steam generating unitseach of which receives a relatively small volume of water which is allowed to circulate through tubes of relatively small diameter and arranged in intimate relation 10. to a source of heat, whereby the generation of steam with greatly increased temperature, pressure and velocity is rapidlyeffected.

It is also a purpose of my invention to 5 provide a steam generator of the above de-.

scribed character in which each generating unit includes an automatic cut-oil, which functions when the tube of theunit burns out or breaks to cut oil the supply of water to the unit and to revent the exhaust of steam from the engine or other device to which the steam is normally delivered. The automatic cut-off includes valves that provide an audible signal which will appraise the operator of the condition of the tube of any one unit.

Another purpose of my invention is the provision of a steam generator particularly adapted for use in locomotives, and which includes two series of generating units with common water and steam headers for the units of each series, and each unit of the. two series having a loop tube adapted for interlocking pivotal engagement with the tube of the corresponding unit of the other series and detachably associated with the headers to allow movement of the tubes within the fire box of a locomotive to provide access to the walls of the latter for purposes of repair.

I will describe only two forms of steam generators embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view showing in vertical section a locomotive boiler having applied thereto one form of steam generating apparatus embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the header units comprised in steam automobiles and the thegenerating apparatus shown in the preceding views; Y

\ Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figural;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of another form of steam generator embodymg my invention in applied position with respect to a steam automobile;

Figure 6 is a enlarged sectional view of one of the automatic cut-offs shown in Figure 5;

F1gure 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 1. Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views of the drawings. Referring specifically to the drawings, my invention in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 is shown applied to a conventional form of locomotive boiler provided with a fire box F, a steam dome H and a steam chamber C in the upper part of the boiler, which extends rearwardly from the .fire box F, as .clearly shown in Figure 1. The steam generator comprises a plurality of generating units, includin tubes 15 of relatively small diameter an bent to conform to the interior contour of the fire box F so as to be disposed in close proximity to the side and crown sheets thereof, as clearly shown in Figure 2. In the present instance I have shown two series of steam generating units, with the tubes 15. of the two series provided with header units, designated generally at A and arranged below and at opposite sides of the fire box F. These header units are provided for the purpose of'supplying water to the tubes 15 from the boiler and for delivering the steam generated in the tubes to' a supplementary steam reservoir R arranged within the steam chamber C of the boiler. To this end, pipes P provide communication between the boiler and the headers A for supplying water from the boiler to the water headers 16 of the header units A. Pipes P are connected to the steam headers 17 of the header units and to the steam dome H through a T-connection 18 (Figure 2). A vertical pipe 19 is connected to the T, and provides communication between the pipes. P and the steam reservoir tank R.

As clearly shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4,

the water and steam headers 16 and 17 of each header unit A are disposed one within the other,'the water header surrounding the steam header and communicating with automatic cutsofi devices designed to control the supply of water to the tubes and the discharge of steam from the steam headers 17. There is one cut-0E device for each of the units, and as the several devices are identical in construction and operation, a description of one will sufiice for all. .lleferring to Figure a, each automatic cut-0d device comprises a casting K common to all of the devices of one header unit provided with a duct 20 which provides communication between the water header 16 and a port 21 controlled by a valve 22. The casting K is bored to receive a valve body 23 secured in proper position within the casting by means of a screw plug 24, and this valve body is formed with an l..-shaped duct 25, the upper end of which constitutes the port 21 controlled by the valve 22. The valve 22 is provided with a stem 26 slidably in a suitable recess 27 formed in the castingto allow the valve to move from the slightly open position shown in Figure 4 to a completely closed position or to the completely open position shown indash lines. lhis valve stem 26 extends through a .dividing partition 28 formed in the valve body and separating the duct from a cylinder 29 in which works a piston 30. The piston 30 is mounted upon the stem 26 and is provided with a convex ground upperside 3O which is adapted in its uppermost position to contact with a ground concave surface 31 of the under side of the partition 26. A spring 32 is mounted on the stem 26 between the valve 22 and the partition 28, and this spring normally urges the valve to the slightly open position shown.

The casting K is provided with an outlet port 33 in which is fitted one end of the corresponding tube 15, and this port provides communication between the duct 25 and the tube. The bore of the casting K in which the valve body 23 is arranged is closed at its lower end by means of a cap nut 34 having an axial opening 35 in which the opposite end of the corresponding tube 15 is adapted to be fitted. It will be clear that by removin the cap nut 3% access may be had to the bore of the casting to allow the removal of the plug 24 and the subsequent removal of the valve body 23 and the valve 21 for the purpose of cleaning the duct, cylinder and valve, as will be understood. It is to be noted that the plug 24 is provided with an angular opening 24* to permit the applicationof a suitable wrench thereto in edecting removal of the plug, and that a gasket 36 is interposed between the plug 241: and the valve body 23 to seal the joint between the valve body and casting for the purpose of preventing the leakage of water past the plug 24.

Between the plug 24 and the cap nut 34 a chamber v3'? is prov ded in the bore which is in communication with the pipe 15 and with a lateral duct 38, the latter leading into an L-shaped duct 39 formed in a valve body arranged within a shouldered bore 41 or. the

casting K. This valve body 40 is main- From the foregoing description it will be clear that the opposite ends of any one tube 15 are in communication with the corresponding cut-oil device, and in order to permit this arrangement and at the same time to maintain the tube in close proximity to the walls of the fire box, it is necessary that the tube be looped in the manner shown. Tt is also desirable that the tubes 15 be detachably associated with the cut-0d devices so that they may be moved away from the walls of the fire box for the purpose of repairing the latter, and to this end the tubes of one series of generating units are looped through the corresponding tubes of the other generating units so that the tubes of one series are pivotally connected to the tubes of the other series,

as clearly shown in Figure 2, it is necessary,

to twist the upper ends of the tubes of one series at right angles to the plane of the tubes in order that these pivotal connections can be provided and at the same time to maintain the desired position of the tubes with respect to the walls of the fire box. Should the tube of any one unit be detached from the corresponding header unit, it will be clear that the companion tube of the corresponding unit of the other series will serve to pivot-ally support the detached tube so that itcan be swung away from the to and sides of the fire box to permit access to the latter for repkairing purposes.

eterring now to Figure 1, the steam reservoir tank R is shown provided with an upper valve 47 and a lower Valve 48, the two valves opening inwardly and outwardly, respectively, and normally urged to closed position by means or" springs, and providing communication between the interior of the tank and steam chamber C or the boiler. The upper valve 47 is designed to allow steam to enter the reservoir tank from the steam chamber when the pressure of steam within the tank is below that of the steam within the chamber. The lower valve 48 is designed to allow the exhaust of steam from the bottom of the tank R into the water contained in the boiler, but only when the steam reaches an excessive or dangerous pressure,

the steam thus exhausted functioning to discharge condensation from the tank and also agitating the water in the boiler and thus increasing circulation. A safety valve 49 on the reservoir tank also allows exhaust of steam from the tank, but opens only when 'the steam reaches a pressure above that shown) and deposits its'sediment before it reaches the height at which the pipes P are connected to the boiler, it being noted that these pipes are connected in front of the fire box and just above the crown sheet. The water entering the pipes P is thus free from scale and sediment and-particularlybecause atthis point in the boiler the water is at its hi hest temperature and at the very point of forming steam vapor. Thus the water delivered to the header units is preheated. The water supplied to the pipes P is delivered to the water headers 16, and large volumes of water are divided and equally distributed to the steam tubes 15 of the steam generating units in the form of relatively small volumes because of the restricted diameter of the tubes. During the passage of these relatively small volumes of water through the tubes 15, they are converted into high pressure steam because of the relatively large heating surface to which the small volumes of water are subjected.

Thus during transit of the water through the tubes it is converted into steam, which is discharged into the steam headers 17 and from the latter to the steam reservoir tank B through the pipes P. The steam generated by the generating units is usually of much higher pressure than the steam in the chamber C so that the valve 47 is closed, thereby trapping the steam within the reservoir tank for subsequent distribution to the cylinders of the locomotive through the usual dry pipe 50, which is connected directly to the reservoir tank as shown in Figure 1.

Should the steam pressure within the reservoir-tank for any reason drop below the pressure within the chamber C of the boiler,

the valve 47 will automatically open, there by allowing steam from the chamber C to enter the reservoir tank and be ultimately delivered to the cylinders of the locomotive through the dry pipe 50. Should the steam stored in the tank reach a dangerous pressure, the valves 48 and 49 will open, thus 'reducing the pressure to a safe degree.

With the valve 48 open it will be clear that water which may have accumulated within the tank R will be discharged into the boilin the tu es is of such high Velocit time the engineer ma see fit, I. have provided a drain pipe 51 aving a valve 52, the

ipe extending from the rear end of thetank 1n the manner shown in Figure 1. Although the tubes 15 are of extremely small diameter, the possibility \of these tubes ed through scale deposit is cause the steam generated as to becoming clo practicall ni .er, but to drain the tank of water at any 2 prevent the formation of scale wit in the tubes, thus insuring the proper circulation of water and steam through the tubes at all times. However, should the tubes for any reason burn out or leak, the automatic cutofi' devices will function to discontinue the Suppl; of water to the tubes and prevent the is erated within the tubes 15 passes to the I steam headers 16- through the chambers 37, ducts 38, 39 and 46, the valves 43 being moved to open position under the ressure of the steam, as will be understoo This steam pressure also acts upon the piston 30 to move the latter to the upper extreme position shown indash lines in Figure 4 so as to move the water valves 22 to the fully open position shown in dash line's. Thus after the initial starting of the generator the pistons are operated by the steam pressure to move the water valves to a position in which a full supply of water to the tubes is permitted.

Upon any appreciable reduction in steam pressure due to burning out of the tubes or from other obvious causes, the piston 30 of the particular tube which is affected is free to move downwardly so as to allow the water in the header to act upon the water valve 22 and move the latter to fully closed position against the tension of the spring 32 to close the valve 22 against the action of the spring 32, and with the water valve 22 in completely closed position it will be clear that the passage of water from the water header to the tube 15 is discontinued. Si multaneously with this action the reduction in steam pressure within the duct 39 allows the back pressure exerted by the steam in the headers 16 to function to close the valve 43, thereby preventing exhaust of steam from the header to atmosphere. So long as this reduction in steam pressure exists, the water and steam valves 22 and 43 will remain closed, but as soon "as the tube 15 is repaired or renewed, and again connected to the casting K, water will again be supplied to the tube to again generate steam in the manner previously described. It is to be understood that before the repairing or replacing of a tube can be eilected it is necessary to extinguish the fire in the fire box or the locomotive, whereupon the water in the headers 16 will not be subjected to the usual steam pressure so'that the spring '32 can function to partly open the valve 22, thereby again placing the water header in communication with the tube. As soon as steam is again generated within the tube 15 its pressure will act to open the valve d8, thereby admitting the steam generated to the steam header 1?. Simultaneously with the opening of the valve 48 the piston is elevated within the cylinder 29 to move the water valve 22 to completely open position,

and it is to be noted that when the piston is in its uppermost position its ground convex surface will tightly seat upon the ground concave surface 31 to provide a water-tight seal to prevent leakage of water into the cylinder 29.

In actual practice a condition may arise during the starting of the locomotive in which the volume of steam in the reservoir tank R will be insufiicient to supply the cylinders of the locomotive. Under this con-i dition the valve 47 would open, allowing steam from the boiler or chamber C to enter the reservoir tank through the valve and thus supply steam directly to the cylinders, However, as soon as the steam pressure is built up sufficiently in the reservoir tank to equal the steam pressure in the steam chamber C the valve 47 will close to place the cylinders in direct communication with the steam generating units.

Referring now to Figure 5, have here shown another .form of steam generator embodying my invention, for use in steam propelled automobiles. This form of steam generator comprises a plurality of individual generating units, each of which includes a plurality of tubes arranged vertically and horizontally and with the tubes of the several units disposed one behind the other and beneath'a hood lined with heat insulating material 61. As in the first form of my invention, two sets of tubes are provided, with. the header unit A for each of the series arranged below and at opposite sides of the tubes and supported on suitable cross frames 62 secured to the side rails 63 of the vehicle chassis. @n these cross frames 62 a fuel burner (not shown) of suitable size to properly heat the tubes of all of the units is supported, and in such manner that the several tubes are directly exposed to the flames emanating from the burner. r i

The tubes of each unit comprise horizontal tubes 64 and 65 connected at one end by a vertical tube 66 and connected between their ends at regular and frequent intervals by vertical tubes 67 which are of relatively nuances small diameter The lower tube 64 eonsti tutesthe water supply tube of the-generating unit for supplying water to the several vertical tubes 66 and 67, and, as shown, the

. opposite ends of this tube are bent to profor a '1 purinstance I have shown the tubes of alternate units connected to one header unit and the remainingtubes to the other header unit.

As in the first form of my invention, these header units A are designed to supply water to the several sets of tubes and receive the steam generated therein for subsequent distribution to the cylinders of the steam engine. In Figure 6 l have shown in detail one of the header units A, and as the two units are identical in construction, except for reversal in arrangement, a description of one will sullice for both. Each header unit comprises a block or casting having vertical passages or ducts 70, to each of which is connected the corresponding water tube 64. Each duct 70 communicates with a horizontal duct 71 having one end open, but normally closed by a screw plug 72. The oppoupper tube 65 are adapted to communicate with their re- \SPQCUVQ header units A and in the present site end of the duct 71 communicates with 72 in turn communicates with a vertical duct 76 in the valve body 73, the upper end of which is provided with a valve seat 77 upon which a water valve 78 is adapted to seat to prevent the passage of water from a water header 79 formed directly in the casting of the header unit. The water valve 78 operates in-a manner identical to the water valve 22 in the first form of my invention and is likewise provided with a stem 80 extending through a partition 81 and provided at its lower end with a plunger or piston 82 working within a cylinder 83 constituting a part of the valve body 73. A spring 8% is interposed between the partition 81 and the valve 78 for normally urging the valve to partly open position.

The casting of the header unit is also formed with a vertical passageway 85 which is adapted to communicate at its upper end with the free end of a steam pipe 65 for the corresponding generating unit. The lower end of the passage 85 communicates with an L-shaped duct-86 formed in a valve body 87, and through the medium of a horizontal duct 88 formed in the casting, and having one end closed by a plug 88. The valve body 87 is removably fitted in the casting and retained therein by a cap nut 89.

illtl A steam valve 90 controls the passage of steam through the duct 86 into a steam header 91 formed directly in the casting. This steam header is common to all of the generating units for the corresponding series and is adapted to have communication with the cylinders of the engine through the usual throttle valve (not shown). The water header 7 9 is adapted to have'communication with the water pumps (not shown) so that water is constantly supplied to the header and from the latter to the several water pipes 64 of the corresponding generatin units.

he operation of the water valves 78 and steam valves 90 is identical to the valves 22 and 43in the first form of my invention in that they control the supply of water to the several generating units and automatically discontinue the supply of water to the units when any of the tubes 64.- to 67 inclusive are, for any reason, disrupted, and prevent the exhaust of steam into the units fromthe steam header 91.

-With water supplied to the water pipe 64 of any one unit, the upwardly bent extremities 68 and 69 function to maintain a uniform distribution of water throughout the length of the tube so that an equal quantity of water will be supplied to each of the vertical tubes 67. The supply of water to the vertical tubes 67 is such that they are only partly filled, and, being directly subjected to the source of heat, the water therein is rapidly converted into dry steam which rises in the tubes and enters the steam tube 65, from which it is conveyed to the steam header 91.

Although I have described the automatic cut ofi devices as used in steam generating apparatus, it is to be understood that such devices can be employed in a similar capacity in connection with water injectors for.

steam boilers, lubrioators for steam engines, or as control means for oil pipe .lines.

Although I have herein shown and described only two forms of steam enerators embodying my invention, it is to e under stood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spiritof the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a'tube, means for supplying a fluid to the tube including a valve, means for receiving the fluid from the tube including a valve, and means responsive to change in pressure of the fluid as received by said means for maintaining the first valve in open position when the pressure of fluid in the tube is at or above a predetermined degree and for closing the first valve when the ressure at fluid in the tube is below the predetermined degree to disconnect the fluid supply means from the tube, the second valve being responsive to fluid pressure to close and disconnect the fluid receivin means from said tube when the pressure oi fluid in the tube is below a predetermined degree.

2. In combination, a water header, a body, a steam generating tube adapted to be exposed to the action. of heat, ducts in the body to provide communication between the water header and the tube to supply Water to the latter, a Water valve in said ducts controlling the supply of water to the tube, a steam header, ducts in the body to receive the steam enerated in said tube and for deliverin t e same to the header, a steam valve in t e second ducts for controlling the passage of steam from the tube to the steam header in such manner that when the pressure of steam as supplied to the header is at or above a predetermined degree the valve will remain 0 on but when the steam pressure drops be ow the predetermined degree the pressure of steam in the header will operate to close the valve, and means in the body responsive to the pressure of steam as received from the tube for maintaining the water valve in open position as long as the pressure of steam is at or above the predetermined degree, but to permit closing of the water valve when the pressure of steam drops below the predetermined degree.

3. A combination as embodied in claim 2 wherein means is provided for normally urging the water valve to partly open position in order that water may be initially supplied to the tube from the water header.

4. A combination as embodied in claim 2 wherein the lastmeans comprises a piston movable in a cylinder, the piston being exposed to the steam as received from the tube so as to be moved thereby.

5. A combination as embodied in claim 2 wherein the'body is provided with removable valve bodies, one for each of the valves, said valve bodies having ducts therein and seats for the valves.

6. A combination as embodied in claim 2 wherein the body is provided with removable valve bodies, one for each of the valves, said valve bodies having ducts therein and seats for the valves, and the valve body for" the water valve havin incorporated therein the last mentions means, and said means comprising a cylinder, a partition closing one end of the cylin der, and a piston movable in the cylinder and operatively connected to the water valve through a stem extending through the partition, said partition and piston having ground surfaces adapted to contact witheach other when the water valve is in full open position to form a water-tight seal around the stem. 

